Havoc on Holy Island Lyrics
[Verse 1]
In placid halls beside the tide
The tiresome scrape of quill on hide
Passes every plodding hour
In the care of a hollow power
Lying alone, treasures abound
Spells sent forth throughout the lands
But stubborn hearts are not beguiled
Beyond the waves a wrath is riled
[Verse 2]
Longships break the waters
Dragonfire paints the sky
Anger rends the silence
Harried by a wild warcry
Relics through ravaged altars
White Christ servants flee
Havoc on Holy Island
Punishment from the sea
[Verse 3]
A lonesome life they embrace
Walled within this hallowed space
Toiling for a higher cause
Loyal slaves to heavenly laws
Macabre rites with rag and bone
Praise to corporal idols shown
But empty words cannot resist
Whirlwinds wreck the fragile bliss
[Solo: Wulfstan]
[Verse 4]
So he bade them go, carry forth
To the daunting halls of the north
Promise of salvation they brought
Pilgrims in a distant domain
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Wily words spreading like a plague
So was a land led astray
[Verse 5 - Old English]
'Her wæron reðe forebecna cumene ofer Norðhymbra land,...ormete þodenas and ligrescas, and fyrenne dracan wæron gesewene on þam lifte fleogende. Þam tacnum sona fyligde mycel hunger,...[and] earmlice hæþenra manna hergunc adilegode Godes cyrican in Lindisfarnaee...' - AS Chronicle 793
[Outro]
Longships break the waters
Dragonfire paints the sky
Anger rends the silence
Harried by a wild warcry
Relics through ravaged altars
White Christ servants flee
Havoc on Holy Island
Punishment from the sea
